Non Stop Crying!!!!!!

[momatheart]

My son is 7 weeks old (but born 3 1/2 weeks early). When he is awake, he is crying!!!! NON STOP CRYING. A few weeks ago upon drs recommendation, we switched to Enfimil LactoFree. This helped a bit... We also started putting him to sleep on the wedge that goes in his crib... So at least now, we have some reprive while he sleeps...
He has a decent sleep schedule, where he sleeps most of the nights from bottle to bottle and will take a nap during the day, but only in the swing.

What I can't understand is what is wrong with him during the day. His eyes open and he starts to squirm and cry immediately. It helps to be STANDING and rocking him but he is still very fussy and we need to keep changing positions... Is this just colic, could it be acid reflux or do I just have an unhappy baby? I don't know if this is normal for this age but I am thinking not.

Any thoughts??? PLEASE!!! I am so frustrated.

[Cazzie]

Hi,
I've been though this stage with my little boy. It does sound like colic. I'm breastfeeding so I can't offer any help with the formula issue. Is he burping good after feeding? Bubbles can be so painful. Some babies have a hard time clearing their bubbles. Does he gulp when he eats? Mine did, so the nurse suggested that I burp him half way through feeding him. If it is colic, there is not much for it, but time. As he grows, he'll be able to cope better. My little one is almost 4 months old and most of the fussy crying is behind us now. He's exactly the same. He wants to be walked around the house. It does become a distant memory so fast, but getting through it is tough. Hang in there. Ask about some herbal tea that can help with colic. Some of the parents I know who's babies had colic swear by it. They said a few drops of cooled tea in the baby's mouth and it settled them. My mother used to talk about something called 'gripe water.' I don't know what it is but you might be able to find out. Good luck and remember, they grow so fast and this is just a very temporary thing.

Later...
I just read a posting about acid reflux in babies. This is something you should definately look into. It could be the problem and there appears to be a solution to it.

[AprilPow]

Acid reflux babies will typically spit up a lot.

May just be colic or gas. You may want to go to the next step, soy it's worth a shot. If it's colic it won't get better by switching formulas. Of course ask your doc first.

My son never burped with feedings so we could assume it was gas. We gave him lactofree, which helped some, then gas drops which helped a lot more.

April

[feelbad]

This really does sound like colic.Both of my boys had it and it just sucked really.also the fact that he is a preemie would help support the colic theory.The best thing to do is to keep pumping in water,lots of water.Is his stool usually hard or soft?when he cries, does it sound like a 'pain cry"?you can also lay him on his back on the floor and gently bring both legs up and down slowly,this will help expel any gases that can build up in his tummy.using a little baby lotion and giving him a good tummy massage might also make him relax those tensed up muscles thus help with the pain.unfortunetly, about the only thing that will help this to finally go away is time.Exactly when did this start?It will usually pop in in the first couple weeks and will go to up to like six weeks.But being a preemie, your son might be going a little longer.I would keep a close eye on this for any other possible symptoms just in case this is NOT colic.Keep checking with his doc with a list of symptoms and how things are going so he/she will know just how long this is all running.i hope he feels better soon.Marcia

[sam0831]

momatheart,
your baby sounds just like my daughter at that age, the doctor diag her with acid reflux, he scribed zantac (sp) he said she did not have colic because she was miserable all the time not just specific period of the day. my daughter did not spit up with the reflux, mostly acid would just come up and she would act like she had something in her mouth almost like she was chewing on cud. anyhow, one day on the med and she was a brand new girl, finally she outgrew it at 4 months --- good luck i know exactly what you are going thru